Upright piano



2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

(No Model.)

W. H. DTTONI UPRIGHT PIANO.

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INVENTOR Mln (No Model l I D 0N. 2 SheGtS- Sheet 2 UPRIGHT PIANO. I

Patented June l2 1888 Y msnm I||| Ilm wf, @l

UWM/ All llllllll 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVILLIAM H. BUTTON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

UPRIGHT PIANO.

. 'PECFICATICN forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,241, dated .Tune 12, 1888.

Application filed October 9,1856. Serial No. 215,795. (No model.)

To @ZZ wwm, rl may concern.-

Bc it known that l, .VTLLIAM H. BUTTON, a citizen ot' the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Upright Pianos, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of pianos which are technically known as uprights,7 and in which the sounding board occupies a vertical or approximately vertical plane.

Heretofore in pianos of the i'oregoil'ig class the upperor head portion or head of the framework, of which head the pin block is a mehr ber and constitutes the front face, has been constructed or framed as a solid, or practically solid, and rigid cross head or cross frame incapable of vibration.

The object o" my invention, broadly stated, is the construction of an upright piano, in which provision is iliade for rendering the upper part or head of the framework of the instrument a skeleton, or box-like, musicallyvibratory framing,-which to such extent is itself amusieal instru ment, and in which provision is also made for venting the tone existing to the rear of the sounding board within the casing directly upward through the skeleton head ofthe casing, and for, above the top level of said head, throwing it forward into the apartment. within which the instrument is placed.

The foregoing objects I attain by a construction a good form of a convenient embodiment ot' which is represented in the aecompanying` drawings and described in this specitication, the particular subject-matter claimed as novel being hereinafter definitely speeilicd.

In the drawings, Figure l is a transverse, side, sectional, elevation through an upright piano embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a reverberator or tone deilector which is mounted upon the skeleton top platform or head of the famework. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the back of such a piano as is represented in Fig. l, with the easing back removed to exhibit the studs and sounding board. Fig. fl is also a perspective view of a sound deadening or muftling dome or action-noise chest which incloses the action above and in front. Fi g. 5 is a similar view of a supplemental pedal which I find it 'convenicnt to employ in connection with the ordinary pedals of the instrument, as a means for controlling a valve or lid for covering the months or upper openings of the tone condoctors.

Similar letters of reference indicate corren spending parts.

In the drawings, A is the casing, which may be of any usual or preferred character; o are the sides thereof.

B is the sounding board, which occupies a plane slightly inclined from the vertical, is stepped or fastened at its base in any usual manner, and as to its upper portion is connected with the pin block O which is an integral portion of and the front face of the head or top of the framework of the instrument.

D are the strings, De the iron plate for said strings, and d tuning keys in the pin block with which said strings are connected.

E are the usual vertical framing studs of the framework, spaced apart such distance as is usual, framed at their upper portions between the pin block O at the front and a transverse back board F at the back, and at their lower portions framed to a base block G, or otherwise supported and maintained as convenience ot manufacture may dictate.

H is the key action, which may be of any preferred character.

I are the keys; and .l the key bottom upon which said keys are mounted.

K is the back to the casing which serves to inclose or bound the interspaces and open spaces existing between the sounding hoard and the framing studs.

Each framing stud is from the base block or basal support throughout its extent to the top level of the back board and pin block independent of and disconnected from every other framing stud, so that between said studs and the pin block and the back board are formed continuousintcrspaces,channels,passage ways, or openings, which I term tone conductors Land which extend completely through the framed boxslike structure which constitutes the upper portion or head of the framework ofthe instrument.

By virtue of the foregoing construction the entire upper section of the piano framework is formed into a horizontal, skeleton, vibrating frame, which is bounded by the pin block IOO in front, the back-board or rear wall at the back, the outside framing studs at the sides or ends, and in which exist transverse divisions formed by the upper portions of the framing studs, between which divisions and the aforesaid bounding members of said vibrating frame the tone conductors exist and extend from the rear of the sounding board entirely through the upper portion, top platform, or head of the framework of the instrument.

The precise form of the tone conductors, as such, is, of course, immaterial, but it is preferable, for simplicity and economy of constiuctioii, that they should be rectangular chambers or openings substantially of the character represented. It is preferable also that the back to the casing should be employed;

but it is not essential, especially where it is intended to place the instrument against a wall.

The upper portion or head of the framework is surmounted by a longitudinallyextending reverberator or tone detlector M, which may be of any preferred construction, but the office of which is to turn, deflect, or reverberate the tone which rises through the tone conductors above the top of the casing forward to the front of the instrument and into the apartment within which it is placed. To this end therefore the said reverberator is Well made as to its deflecting surface of circular or parabolic cross-section,it extendinglongitudinally across and from the extreme back edges of the openings or mouths of the tone conductors upward and forward more or less directly over said several openings or mouths.

In connection with the skeleton head of the framework its contained tone conductors and the reverberator, l likewise prefer to employ a lid Nfor the tone eonductors,whicliishinged along the back edge of the top platform or head of the piano to the rear of the back sides of the openings or mouths of the tone conductors, and which may be either flat or curved after the manner of a reverberator itself, but which,when dropped, is of such dimensions as to effectually and tightly inclose the top openings or mouths of all of the tone conductorsv and complete the box-like structure of the skeleton top or head to the casing. The said lid, when not used as a top to the box of the head subserves the purpose of a swell to the tone conductors and renders the tone emitted and reverberated, loud or soft, as it is opened, closed, or controllably adjusted at will.

The foregoing lid may be operated by a draw stop, by a lever, or by any desired contrivance; I, however, prefer to operate it by the aid of a supplemental pedal O,which is conveniently disposed between the loud and soft pedals of the action, and which is connected by a pedal rod P, contained within one 4of the tone conductors,with the lid direct.

Q is aspring of any desired character placed beneath the inner end of a supplemental pedal to counterbalance the weight of the lid. The supplemental pedal is conveniently provided with a side stop or slot and has a slide action into said stop or slot, as shown in Fig. 5.

It is a miifding dome or actioii-noise tone chest, which is adapted to cover and inclose the top and front of the hammer action of the instrument from the finger keys to a point above the timing keys, and which extends across the entire length of said hammer action. This dome is formedofanysound deadlening material, or is eovered,lincd,or felted,with, cloth, or leather, to render it impervious to sound, and it therefore serves to contain within the instrument to the front of the sounding board, and to mufiie against escape, the sounds arising from the friction and movement of the action, and the tones which dust or the noise of the action render imperfect. This dome, which is concealed by the front paneling of'the casing is removable, conveniently by being provided 'with'gudgeons or lateral pins r, which are adapted to sockets rx attached to the cas ing, a button r2 of any preferred snap, catch, or other means of connection being employed to retain the dome against the pin block. Vhen the button is turned free, the dome can be rotated upon its gudgeons to the front of the easing and readily removed.

Such being a description of a good forni of instrument embodying my improvement, it will be readily understood that the gist of that improvement primarily resides in making the head or top of the framework of the instrument instead of a solid mass of material, a skeleton, a framed together, or a box like structure, capable of vibration, and therefore itself a musical instrument,-sucli result being most readily secured by the removal or omission of the filling pieces between the studs, and being accompanied by the concomitant result that the openings so produced bythe removal of the aforesaid filling pieces, constitute ducts, or channels, which pass up through the top of the instrument, and, being in communication below with the interspaces and open spaces existing to the rear of the sounding board between the studs and sides of the casing, serve as tone conductors to vent the tone existing within the casing to the rear of the sounding board out through the top of the instrument and against the reverberator or detleetor superimposed above said ducts and acting to defleet the tone forward or to the front of theiiistrument and into the apartment within which it is placed.

It will be apparent that the pin block itself is preserved intact, and that it and the back` board when framed in with the studs form a frame-work lof entirely sufficient strength. The dome or action tone chest may, if desired, be omitted, although, when employed, itserves to insure against the escape of the tone except through the tone conductors. Considered simply as a hollow or skeleton framed box,the skeleton head which I employ, even with the lid kept closed, gives betterniusical results than have heretofore been possible with uprooV right instruments as ordinarily made. I prefer to employ the lid in connection with the reverberator or tone detiector, vbut the lid can be dispensed with; as can also the reverberator when the lid is kept closed.

I have herein spoken ofthe tone conductors as being in communication7 with the spaces tothe rear of the sounding board; By this statement, however, I am not to be understood as meaning that the communication is necessarily a physical one, and. that7 for instance, a ball dropped intoa tone-conductor would necessarily fall to the base of the instrument behind the sounding board,-beeause musical tone-consisting of vibrations, and being in creased and enhanced, rather than diminished or deteriorated, by the interposition of a thin piece of woodfewonld be emitted through the tone conductors notwithstanding the interpo sition of transverse thin pieces of wood, inthe form, for instance, of a bottom to the boxlike structure which constitutes the skeleton head of the framework.

I am aware that holes or openings have been formed through the solidly framed heads of upright pianos in order to permit of the ascent of sound, and to such a construction I lay no claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

i. Au upright piano the upper portion, or head of the framework of which is of skeleton or boxlike structure, in order to render said upper portion of said framework a musically vibratory framing, substantially as set forth.

2. An upright piano, the upper portion or head of the framework of which is a skeleton or box-like structure the componentmembers of which are sojoined or framed together as to embody between them openings or tone conductors which both render said head a musically vibratory framing and afford top channels of egress for the tone which exists to the rear of the sounding board within the casing ofthe instrument, substantially as set forth.

An upright piano, the upper portion or head of the framework of which is a skeleton or boxlike structure the component members of which are so ljoined or framed together as to embody between them openings or tone conductors which both render said head a musically vibraiory framing and afford top channels ot' egress for the tone which exists to the rearof the sounding board within the casing of the instrument, and which is provided with a controllable lid which serves as a swell to said tone conductors, substantially as set forth.

4. Au upright piano, the upper portion or head of the framework of which is channeled or provided with openings ortone conductors which render said head a musically vibratory framing, and afford top channels of egress for the tone which exists tothe rear of the sounding board within the casing of the instrument,- and which is as toits said head provided with a reverberator, or other suitable tonedefiect` ing device, which serves to detlect the tone escaping from the openings or tone conductors forward or to the front of the instrument, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. An upright piano, the upper portion or head of the framework of which is channeled or provided with openings or tone conductors which render said head a musically vibratory framing, and ait'ord top channels of egress for the tone which exists to the rear of the sounding` board within the casing of the instrumenawhich is as to its said head or casing provided with a reverberator, or other suitable toue detlecting device, which serves to defieet the tone escaping from the openings or tone conductors forward or to the front of the instrument,-and which is also provided with a controllable lid which serves as a swell to said tone conductors, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the casing and with the action of an upriOht piano, a sound-deadening or mufding dome or action-noise chest composed of material through which sound will not pass, applied in front of and inelosing the action, substantiallyzs and for the purpose set forth.

7. An upright piano, the upper portion or head of the framework of which is channeled 9 or provided with openings or tone conductors which render said head a musically vibratory framing, and afford channels of egress for the tone which exists to the rear of the sounding board within the casing of the instrument, and which is also provided with a muiiiing dome or actionnoise chest for incasing the key action and deadcning its sound, substantially as set forth.

8. An improved framework for an upright paino consisting of a pin block, a back-board, and a series of vertical framing studs disposed betweeu said pin block and back-board at given intervals and without intermediate filling blocks in such manner as to constitute the head of the framework a skeleton or vibratory framing, and to form in it a series of l vertical passages or tone conductors, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 28th day of September, A. D. 1885.

XV. H. BUTTON.

In presence of- J. BoNsALr. TAYLOR, WM.. C. STRAwnnrDen.

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